Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“What are you angry for?” The other sheikh dealt Rayyan a picture-perfect look of injured innocence. “I didn’t mention any names. You did.”
The normally calm Rayyan flipped him the bird in answer, and Tarif grinned. “I love you too, brother.”
And because he knew everyone had planned to gang up on him about Anisah, he raised a brow at the kingdom’s military commander, who was seated on one of the bar stools by the counter. “I’m guessing it’s your turn now, sheikh?”
The doors to Tarif’s office were thrown open before Altair could answer, and a moment later, a frantic-looking Anisah came rushing in. “Your Highness, I really don’t think—-” She stopped dead in her tracks and turned red when she saw five handsome men swing around to face her.
Oh, curse it, what were all the Al-Atassi sheikhs doing here?
Recalling her manners, Anisah quickly bowed, murmuring, “Your Majesty, Your Highness.” When Anisah straightened, she saw that the sheikhs – with the exception of a smirking Tarif – did not look happy at all to see her.
Since she was certain the sheikh would’ve informed his cousins about their engagement serving merely as a convenient cover-up, it only meant they still considered her unworthy even as a short-term fiancée. The thought hurt, but she told herself the king and his vassals had every right to feel that way.
Lifting her chin, she said stiffly, “I am deeply sorry—-”
“As you should be,” the king said heavily as he rose to his feet, with his vassals following suit.
Anisah forced herself to stay still as Khalil, Malik, Rayyan, and Altair walked towards her. Whatever they say or do, she told herself doggedly, you must accept with honor and grace.
“Lady Anisah?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“There’s time yet to put an end to this farce,” Khalil said seriously. “Prove to us that you have better sense and taste.”
Anisah gaped. Did that mean...
“It is not too late to change your mind, anisdi. Say you will dump our bastard of a cousin, nem?”
Oh. Sheer relief had her bursting into laughter, but this only made the other sheikhs’ handsome faces crease with feigned scowls.
“Tarif is a bad influence on you,” Malik grumbled. “You never laughed like that before.”
Tarif simply sat back and listened in unthreatened silence as the others started to badger Anisah into breaking up with him.
“In light of your sudden and inexplicable change of opinion about our cousin,” Tarif heard Altair say in his deep voice, “I feel duty-bound to inform you of certain truths about Tarif that you may not be aware of.”
So that was how the army general was going to play it, Tarif thought with a smirk. Too bad for Altair, this was Anisah they were talking about here. She had practically grown up with them, and so there was nothing that Altair could say to have her turn away from Tarif. She knew his every sin—-
“There was this one night we spent in Kyrillos Gazis’s yacht...”
Except that.
“Shut up, Altair.” The sheikhs snickered at the speed in which Tarif launched himself out of his seat and shoved past them in his haste to get to Anisah.
His puritan was peering up at Altair curiously. “I don’t believe I know—-aah!” Anisah glowered down at the sheikh at finding herself suddenly lifted up in his arms like she was naught but a sack of potatoes. “Let me down, Your Highness!”
“I will, anisdi,” he assured her readily, “when we make it to my bed.” Letting out an outraged gasp, Anisah started struggling against his embrace, but this only made the sheikh tighten his hold. Turning back to face his cousins, he shot Altair a dirty look, saying testily, “That was a low blow.”
But the other sheikh only smiled, asking mildly, “Are you saying a single incident in the past is enough to cause you trouble? Are you not confident enough in her desire for your presence?”
“Airafi, Altair.” Fuck you, Altair.
The other sheikhs laughed, their good mood fully restored now that they had managed to bait Tarif into losing his temper.
“Why would you not tell me about that night?” his lovely harpy demanded.
That night, he had two women come on to him while he had been in a private office the Greek billionaire had loaned for the sheikhs’ use, and in the aftermath of one of the most torrid sexual encounters of his life, Tarif had found himself lying on the Ramilian flag, with his cum and those of the women splattered on the fabric.
That was what happened, and for the all-too-proper and patriotic Anisah to know about it...
A shudder racked the sheikh’s powerful form.
Never.
Anisah had now stopped struggling long enough to stare at him with growing suspicion. “What did happen that night?”
“Nothing you should concern yourself with,” Tarif answered evasively while shooting another glare at his cousins. Damn all of you.
The king grinned. That was more like it. And as he had now attained his objective, Khalil motioned for his remaining vassals to follow him as he bid the couple good night. “And Lady Anisah, if you require any help in terminating the engagement—-”